Los Angeles Passport Agency

If u need the long version of a longer version, yes, you can get your passport without an appt. Shhh. Don’t tell anyone. It’s a secret. Sorry to blow it but ppl who have the smarts to check out Unilocal reviews for expectations or concerns should be rewarded with that info or almost die of a attack cuz they’re freaking out like me. So, out of no where, my BFF Calls me few days ago on a 3 way call with another friend & get this… a travel agent, convincing us to join her on a Cancun trip booked 2 weeks out. Now I know Filipinos can’t tell time but daaang, could she have given a girl more than 2 weeks notice? only problem is I didn’t have a passport. She ensured me that I can get one expedited. So I booked a flight that was nonrefundable on top of a $ 400 fee for changes or cancellations so of course I was freaking out. I know, But that’s what happens when your girl asks u if you’re down. (Remind me not to answer her calls again) The automated appointment line only offers apptmnts 14 days out with proof of travel within 2 weeks. On ⁶⁄₂₃ I called & the next available appointment was ⁷⁄₆ but I fly out ⁷⁄₇. I grabbed it. Then I spoke to 3 different agents asking if it was cutting it too close and was it possible to have my passport that day since I’ll be flying out the next morning. I received 3 different answers, basically it’s possible but they won’t guarantee it. That wasn’t convincing enough. They kept suggesting I keep calling the appointment line in case of any cancellations. I tried. I almost booked in SD. Didn’t have to. Finally went on Unilocal to see what everyone’s experience has been. When I think I’m catching some good signs, others’ experiences throw me off and I’m discouraged again. I even read as far back as some of the 2015 reviews to see if much has changed. Didn’t seem like it. Some reviews say they take walk ins Monday mornings only, while others say any day is ok before 8am. Its all hit or miss depending on that day. After studying Unilocal for a bit, I made a plan to show up this morning (Monday 27^th) and while knowing that my flight was still 13 days out, I may not walk out with my passport but I’ll at least know it’s in the works for pick up in couple days and I can relax. The worse they can do is tell me to come back closest to my travel date. It gave me anxiety because I booked a nonrefundable trip. Showed up at 6:15am (doors open at 7am) and yup, about 50 ppl in line and every single one of us did not have an appointment. At 6:30 I wasn’t surprised that the Security guards started to comb through the line (read on Unilocal they are kind enough to start before doors open at 7am) asking us our travel date. Mine is 13 days out so he handed me a piece of paper with the 800# for 24 HR appointment line and told me to call for an appointment. I told him there wasn’t any available. He said there were same day appointments open and I’d be seen faster if I had an appointment. So a handful of us called the # to get the next available appointment. My guess is the rest had immediate flights that day or next day and would have to wait regardless-​in a diff line. The next available appointment was now 9am this morning. I was confused. I asked security if I had to come back, he said «nope, move over to the appt line» Waaaaa? Now the line of 50 plus ppl became a line of 10. The girl at the will call window checked all my documents, gave me a paper with a group #. Security guard put me in a line with the same group # and lined us up at the federal building where they do security screening. The other groups were lined up after us and was still a speedy process. Put my belongs through the X-​ray and walked down the hall into a seated area and was handed another #. When I got called up, lady took my documents, $ 195 payment and said I can return 2 days later to pick it up at will call between 2 – 3. I decided I’m going to pick it up between 9−11am a day after they’ll be ready to avoid traffic and the lines as I read on Unilocal.Arrived 6:15am, was in my car by 7:30am and even made it to work on time. Unilocal described the friendly staff and easy process to a T. If we are standing in line at the passport agency, it’s obvious that we are in panic mode wondering if we are going to make our flights and I think it’s awesome that the staff def helps to ease our nerves. They give off a pleasant, inviting, friendly vibe. It’s too bad DMV workers aren’t as nice. Even without an apt, the process still seemed quick. It’s best to make an appt but if U have to walk in, get in line with the 6am crowd. If u have an appt but for a later time in the day and ur flyin out 24 – 48 hours, u can still get there as early as 7am that day to allow them more time to process. Although it was an easy, painless experience, the lesson Ive learned. is never answer my BFF’s calls. Lol
$ 195 passport book fee
Birth cert (certified copy)
Itinerary within 2 weeks of travel
DL
Confirmation # (or phone #)
Completed form
Passport photos
Leave the scissors @ home

I needed to get my passport done ASAP for a study abroad trip I’m going on next month. Driving to the westside can be a hassle for me a lot of the times, but it was well worth it. I had a great experience and was able to pick up my passport 2 days after submitting my application at this agency. Helpful staff, waiting period of only about 10 minutes (I had an appointment), and VERY quick turnaround rate.
For the most efficient experience, these are my tips:
1.) Call the passport agency and book an appointment ASAP. My appointment was booked for 2 weeks after I’d set it up; appointment availability varies depending on how much people are traveling. Having an appointment will save you so much waiting time and you will be in and out within 15 – 30 minutes. If your trip is in 2 weeks or less (aka an urgent trip), you must have proof of travel in order to be granted access to the will call line. Also, if you come later in the afternoon without an appointment and you do not have proof of urgent/​immediate travel, they may not let you in. I saw some families get denied because they did not have an appointment and came later in the day (around 1:30 pm). You can probably get in if you arrive around 10:00 am or earlier, but like I said, it’s much better just to have an appointment ready if you possibly can.
2.) Triple check that you have ALL of your documents and items ready before you leave. This should include your DS form (s), driver’s license or state-​issued ID, old passport or birth certificate (birth certificate available to purchase at your county clerk if you need it), proof of travel (a screencap of your airline tickets, work/​study abroad itinerary, etc. should suffice), and payment. HUGE tip is to keep all of these in a folder of some sort. You will be much more organized and it will make your trip much easier.
2.) You can enter the parking lot from both Veteran Ave and Sepulveda Blvd. Parking is free and ample!
3.) If you don’t have your passport photo or if they make you retake it (this was my case because my background was not white enough), there is a photo place right next to this that charges $ 14 for 2 copies of your photo. They were super helpful and allowed me to take a couple of different photos so I could get one that I liked. CASH ONLY THOUGH!
4.) Don’t be stupid (like me lmao) and forget to take your self defense weapons off your keys! This seems very logical but sometimes you just forget. I had to walk back to my car to put away my pepper spray. They allowed me back in without having to wait in line again, but just save yourself time and remember to do this lol.
5.) Do not make phone calls or play music/​watch videos without headphones in the building. Seriously, there are signs that tell you to keep your phones quiet. I sat next to someone who was watching Snapchat stories super loudly and it was obnoxious. Don’t be that person. Save your phone call for later and bring headphones. It’s not that hard to be courteous.
6.) If you’re like me and don’t live near the westside, it may feel like a hassle having to drive all the way here for an appointment. If you have time, make the most of your trip by going to Venice or Santa Monica. I finished my appointment by 11 AM and decided to have lunch on Third Street.
I seriously suggest coming here instead of your local library or post office to turn in your passport application. As long as you are totally prepared and follow directions, the process is a breeze. Very pleased with my experience here, and hope it is for my fellow travelers as well!

After looking for my husband and my passport for two weeks, and our trip to the Maldives being the next week, we were going crazy and almost cancelled our trip! With that, my husband’s birth certificate and SSC card were together with his passport and so we didn’t have his most important documents. After looking up solutions, we devised a plan– a crazy plan that is– to do it all in one day.
To start off with, we live in San Luis Obispo County, our nearest Passport Agency was Los Angeles. But we couldn’t go straight to the Agency without our birth certificates. (You need your old passport or your birth certificate, your ID, forms, and a photo) So here was our brilliant plan that we executed in a day:
1. Drive from SLO at 3am to San Bernardino to purchase a copy of his birth certificate (We got there at 7:30am and they opened at 7am).
2. Drive from San Bernardino to Norwalk to pick up my birth certificate from my mom.
3. Drive from Norwalk to the LA Passport Agency.
4. Go to Will Call since we were unable to make an appointment and needed the passports ASAP.
5. Get through the passport process and have them mail us our passports via PriorityMail Express (This arrived in 2 days once the passports were shipped).
The passport agency itself was quick, efficient, and great at service. It was a breeze once we reached the agency. We were so relieved once everything came together and that we were reassured that it should come in the mail three days before our trip (yes, it did folks!). The whole process at the agency probably took two-​two and a half hours all in all, but it was much easier than expected. Guards and staff were all so friendly and accommodating and our experience was great.
Side note: We’ve learned our lesson and will never do this again.

Don’t go here on your travel day even at 5am unless your flight is after 3… I got here at 5 without an appointment of course, hence the 5. It is 12:40 and still no p port even tho they know I’m trying to catch a 1:30 flight. I was told u might get some priority depending on your travel times and that is clearly not the case! I had every duck in a row… Photo, app filled out, no name changes just a simple renewal… really thought I could get it within 4 hours. Nope… Rescheduling flight now!

PROBLEM
I didn’t realize that my kids’ passports had expired as we prepared for a trip to Cabo.
I called the Agency and was given the appointment for the morning of 6÷17÷2016 at 11:00a. We are traveling on Monday, June 20.
ARRIVAL
The appointment was at 11:00, yet we went early and arrived at 8:30a. The first place you begin is in the line directly behind the outdoor snack shop. You go through security and head right down the hallway.
AGENT #1
The next step is to get in line near windows 1 – 4. Here you will submit ALL your paperwork for a passport. The agent looks through the paperwork, makes some copies and makes sure everything is in order. Finally, they issue you a number something like A123 or C425.
AGENT #2
Take a seat and wait for your number to be called. Once called, you go to the window. There is a TV monitor in the front where you can see the number and window number where you have to go. The second agent will enter your passport information into the computer system. When the agent calls you up, he or she will give you a receipt telling you when to come back and pick up your passport (s). Because we were flying Monday and the agency is closed Sat & Sun, they processed our children’s passports the same day. They told us to come back at 3:00.
This entire process took no more than 30 – 35 minutes.
WILL CALL
There are 2 Will Call windows; Will Call A & Will Call B. That is where people traditionally pick up their passports. This was the longest part for us. We hoped that they may have processed the passports sooner (wishful thinking). We actually got the passports just 5 minutes after 3:00
The agents were nice and accommodating. A couple of the officers seemed unapproachable, but it is what it is. All in all, everything went smoothly.
Between 9:30 and 3:00 we went to the Santa Monica Pier and the 3^rd Street Promenade where we had lunch. These places were less than 3 miles away.
Thank goodness for this service. Everything went well and worth the wait.
TIPS
–Make an appointment and show up early.
–Make sure you have the application and ALL the required documentation.
–There is a snack shop outside that only takes CASH
–There is a cafeteria that takes credit, but closes at 3:00.
–Restrooms are in cafeteria and the passport building after security check.
–No drinking fountains outside, except one inside the Federal Building for Passports.
–Free parking in the lot on Veterans St.
–As you are waiting for Will Call, you can leave and come back right before your time.

Walked in this morning and received my passport this afternoon!
I got there at 6am this morning and out by 9am to put my application in. Then I had to go back at 2:30pm to pick up my passport!

This place is awesome– Read if you need to get a same day passport and don’t have an appointment
1) Make sure your flight leaves that same night or next day. OR book a cancelable flight (or hotel even if you’re driving) and print out your confirmation (to cancel and throw away later) They will ask for proof of travel and won’t issue a same day passport unless your travel is in the next 24 – 48 hours.
2) Don’t use a passport photo app on your phone. Get them professionally done or there’s a very good chance you’ll get kicked out of line and have to pay $ 15+ there to get them done.
3) Wake up early. Be there in line no later than 6am. Even at that time there will be a good amount of people in front of you.
4) Just be cool, don’t act super stressed and these guys will take care of you!
My passport was ready by 5pm that day and I flew out that night.
Paid the minimum amount, do not go with expedited passport agencies! just go here.

I wish I could give more stars. I walked in expecting to confront a bunch of grumpy employees like those you would see at the DMV, and expecting to spend an entire day trying to apply for a passport.
But dear lord this place was magical. Everyone was so nice and helpful. I felt like I was in Disneyland. I wish I new their names so I could compliment them here, but all of the employees were extremely friendly and really wanted to help me out.
I wasn’t believing what I was seeing when I entered this office cuz when I go to the passport office in Iran, everyone hates each other and hate their jobs and hate the world around them, and you have to beg employees like crazy to help you out when ur facing a problem.
But these folks, wow, they were fantastic and very sociable and friendly individuals. Something I would never expect to see in a government institution. One of them was so awesome that I wish I had her number to ask her out Hahahah (kidding). I was in and out within 30 minutes, and it only took that long cuz I had’t filled out my application in advance!

I had a wonderful experience at this office. The staff is friendly and efficient. They get you in and out with minimal fuss, and are happy to provide exact instructions for every step of the process. While I don’t recommend getting a passport at the last minute, I have to say that it was painless. Just remember to make an appointment or you will not be let in. The instructions online are very detailed, so there is no reason to come unprepared.

One of the challenges of living in Europe is that you may get your passport stamped a lot. I say may because there are times I’ve traveled through four countries and never been asked for ID, much less a passport. But if you do leave Schengen (most notably, to go to the UK, or to the newer Eastern European members of the EU, i.e. Poland/​Hungary/​Croatia, etc.) you will probably be asked for your passport. If you have your French carte de sejour (the card version, not the sticker in your passport one) you can sometimes use this in the EU passport line. I’ve tried it more than once with success, and always had the backup plan of playing «dumb American» if it didn’t work.:-)
This is all to say that my 26-​page US passport was coming to the end of its useful life last November. Though it was still 3 years to go until renewal (American passports are good for 10 years these days), I was out of pages for stamps. Yes, I know, tough life for Stephen. My problem was compounded by the fact that the US Embassy in France was directed to stop adding extra pages to passports on December 31, 2015, a fact I found out in late November when looking through their website. Given that I would need my passport all throughout December for travel, I couldn’t spare it for the 2 – 3 weeks the embassy would need to make the extra pages.
By the time I had a moment to go to the US Embassy in Paris in late January of this year, I had figured out that I had to renew in person: foreign residents aren’t permitted to mail their passports back to the the US for extra pages service (which still exists there, anyway). The instructions stated this in bold and the embassy employee confirmed it. Again, due to travel, I couldn’t surrender the passport for 2 – 3 weeks or even the 2 – 3 business day expedite service. My «I’m out of pages» reason didn’t qualify for any higher level of expediting. And given how customs officials don’t seem to care about stamping over previous stamps, perhaps it wasn’t that big of a deal anyway. But I didn’t want to chance it.
«So I should do rush processing when I’m in America next month?» I asked. He shrugged, then nodded as he realized that would be easy. I told him I would be in Los Angeles for a segment of my trip and he said they did same day processing.
As I got ready to leave France I called 1−877−487−2778, which is the number to make an appointment for passport services in the USA. Since I wasn’t 14 days from leaving the US (I hadn’t even technically arrived), they said I couldn’t make an appointment yet (I found out later this wasn’t true). She then told me to call back 14 days prior to my leaving with the date I wanted the appointment. Alas, the next available time was while I would be in Kansas City for a week visiting friends and family — and there was no regional consulate there.
After perusing the interwebs, I gleaned that I might be able to get in with no appointment IF I showed up at some terrible hour in the morning (note: terrible is generally anything prior to 10am), but in this case it would be compounded by waking up even earlier to drive there. I left north Orange County at around 5am to arrive at 11 000 Wilshire Blvd at 6:30am, 30 minutes before the opening time on a Wednesday (normal hours are 7am-​3pm). The line was 30 deep already, but of the 20 only 5 were without appointments, including a couple who had their suitcases with them!
When I got to the window around 7:15am I got the skinny which the interwebs didn’t provide: no-​appointment folks (like myself) would only be seen if they had proof of travel within 48 hours. I was 12 days out, timely by appointment standards, but not by standby standards, which was only for the most desperate. «Make an appointment for 2 days before you leave,» he told me in response to my stating I was going to be in KC shortly. Trusting in the «we see everyone in line on Fridays» rule (my flight to Europe would be on a Sunday) I called the 800 number again and this time used the automated system to get an appointment for a date and time of my choosing, which would be the 18^th of March at 7am.
This story continues on:

LAPA recently had a Passport Day on Saturday 04÷09÷16 and I have to say this was the best experience I’ve ever had dealing any form of governmental agency.
***This review is based on a walk-​in NO APPOINTMENT visit to LAPA.*** Making an appointment is always going to give you a better experience and less wait, as long as you come prepared (duh).
THE JUICY: I have to fly out for a trip on Wednesday 04÷13÷16 for a death in the family. I brought along my flight confirmation and a death certificate (all written in Chinese). The agent that helped me saw the title that I roughly, very loosely, translated in pen «DEATH CERTIFICATE» and he offered his condolences and said, «Can you come get your passport on Monday?» HOLY SH– F YEA I WILL. THANK YOU TAHNK YOU asdklfjaskldfj. The website states that even with the expedited service, it’ll still take 8 business days so you can imagine my surprise and joy.
The biggest and best impression they left with me was, even though the event was scheduled to start at 7:30am, the staff showed up extra early and started processing the line at 6:50am. If only the DMV could operate like this. HAH. Wishful thinking.
I got there at 7:45am and there was already a line wrapped around the main quad area. I was annoyed because who the f likes waiting in lines? But to my surprise, the line moved every 2 – 3 minutes in big chunks of 10 – 15 ft. Cue the obamanotbad.gif.
Overall, the whole process took 3 hours; I paid and got out of there at close to 11am. And from some horror stories I’ve heard, a 3hr wait is a luxury. A lot of people got annoyed and tried lecturing the staff but it’s really no fault of the Agency. COME PREPARED WITH EVERYTHING FILLED OUT. You’re all adults. Some of you have kids. Come on man, you’re supposed to be a role model and inspiration for your kids but you show up with nothing in hand hoping to get your passport sorted out and you throw an adult tantrum? L O L

Best government office experience I’ve had. Before I go any further, I must say this: BE PREPARED BEFORE YOU GO
— make an appointment and NOTE YOUR CONFIRMATION NUMBER
— fill out your forms at home before you go
— make sure you have all supporting documents
— arrive early
I had an appointment for 2p. I arrived way early, at 1p, but they took me anyways. I had all my docs ready to go. I went through security (easy peasy) then checked in with my confirmation number. The officer sent me to a line to do my doc check and get a number (the lady at that window was lovely!). Then as I was walking away from the window, my number got called. Whaaaaat?! That second lady was even nicer. Gave her my paperwork, paid, was told to come back Tuesday afternoon to pick up my new passport, left. Literally 24 mins, in and out.
The moral of the story: BE PREPARED

My experience may not reflect the average person’s experience but I will share my experience to give you an idea of what to expect if «everything goes well».
Just to summarize my experience — I turned in my forms and old passport yesterday morning at 8:30am, and returned to the will call window and received my passport today at 11:45am — just one day before my trip overseas!
No wait either yesterday nor today… it looks like I was one of the fortunate ones!
For those who are interested… here is how it all happened in detail…
It all started out when I was cleaning my place last Saturday night and was moving some stuff and was about to move around my passport to a safer spot — so I can grab it for my family vacation that is the following Wednesday. So I’m looking at my passport when all of a sudden… OH SH** — I WAS SUPPOSED TO RENEW THIS PASSPORT! You could imagine how freaked out I was. I literally stopped everything, dropped everything I did and started researching and researching what I could do. My trip was in less than four days! AHH! So — I found out about the 877 number from the federal website and all the required material which has been mentioned countless times on these other Unilocal reviews.
In a panic mode, I was stressed to the max.
I make an appointment for Monday at 10:30am, but then a little while later call the number again to reschedule to 8:30am…thinking, «hey, if I get there as early as I can, maybe I might be able to get the passport the same day?!» well this wasn’t the case — I had to return the next day. But atleast I was able to get my new passport before my trip!

Los Angeles Passport Agency (LAPA) is as good as it gets!
I needed to renew my passport ASAP, so I went online 4 days ago and obtained a code for my 10:30 am appointment today. I arrived at 10:50 am (20 minutes late), and I was able to wait in line outside, get in through the security door, wait in line again then get a number to wait again (I quickly filled out the form needed) then was called to go to window#5.
I opted for the extra page (50+pages) passport and was told that it will be ready tomorrow by 2 pm, WOW! So for $ 170, I was able to get my US passport renewed in about 28 hours. NOT BAD at ALL, Unilocalers! This entire process only took 28 minutes… double WOW WOW!
This is not the first time that I visited this place, and won’t be the last. Of course, I’ll be back tomorrow to pick up my new passport since it’s only a 15 minute drive to the Federal building from home (yay).
I’ve always had EXCELLENT experience here at the LAPA. One of the most efficient place in the WORLD! Oh, sorry Unilocalers, I was gonna take a photo, but was told… NO PHOTOS, PLEASE! So there, no photos.

Who the f*ck loses their passport on Monday
and had to travel to Vietnam on Thursday?
Yes, that would be MOI.
With a short 48 hour window,
I had little choice but to endure the hassle
of waiting and spending money
at the LA Passport Agency.
RULES OF THE ROAD:
(1) Go to their website and complete instructions (forms, passport photos, etc.).
(2) Make an appointment (or else you will not be admitted).
(3) Go to their office and get in line to get a number.
(4) Wait until your number shows on screen (it took 30 min. for me).
(5) Submit forms and pay fees.
(6) Your receipt shows the time and date of when your passport is ready.
(7) Pick up your passport on the designated time and day (my wait was 30 min).
OVERALL
========
People complaining how inefficient the system here is, well,
what do they expect.
$ 195 total (excluding price of visa application), but sh*t happens.
Just hope that it doesn’t happen again.

I made my appointment through the automated system and made sure to jot down my confirmation number. I had a 7AM appointment on a Friday and to avoid traffic and waiting in a line, I got there at 6:30. Huge parking lot-​free for 3 hours. The line starts by the Will Call A and B windows and just one line for everything (passport apps, renewals, veteran assists, etc). I reached the first security checkpoint at 7:10 (asked for confirmation number) and reached the 2^nd checkpoint right after (asked for confirmation number again). Got to the 1^st window for them to review the paperwork and was given a number and waited to be called. Got called to the 2^nd window as soon as I sat down to wait, and was out of there by 7:30AM. In addition, was told I could pick up my passport on Tuesday.
Come Wednesday, I get here around 11:30AM and there was no line to pick up my passport. Be sure to bring your receipts, to sign the necessary authorizations.
Overall, very satisfied with the super fast efficiency and kindness of the workers there!
Documents needed:
–confirmation number from automated system
–pre-​filled out application
–birth certificate
–photocopy of ID (i used my drivers license)
–proof of travel (i used my itinerary)

Had to get my passport renewed recently so I easily went to their website and got an appointment within the same week (there were a lot of days & times available). MAKE AN APPOINTMENT — it’s easy!!!
I arrived about 30 minutes before my scheduled appointment time, there was plenty of free parking & it only took about 10 – 15 minutes to get through security (this is a federal building). The check in line moved very quickly and I was told to take a seat until I was called to one of the many windows to be processed. Waited probably 5 – 10 minutes and was called to have my paperwork processed and pay. Then I was told to come back at around 2:30pm for a 3pm pick up time (they said everyone starts lining up early and sure enough there was already a line at 2:30). The line moved quickly and I got my new passport all in the same day. Every clerk and employee I encountered here was so nice, pleasant and helpful. I see why they get great reviews here, they definitely deserve them. Thanks for the quick, professional and pleasant service!!!

This review is for the first part of the process:
Appointment set for 7am and was in line at 630. Was quickly checked in, went thru security and was at the window by 7:05. Had all paperwork pre filled out on line and printed which made it faster. Was at the 2^nd window by 7:15. Told to return on Wednesday at 2:00pm for pick up. Out the door by 7:35. Tip– Get there early, have your forms filled out and you will be in and out in no time.

One of the few pleasant experiences I’ve had with a government agency, had an appointment at 7:30 AM I was out of there by 8 AM, the whole team from security screening to passport processing was an A+ experience. Wish all government agencies ran this smooth.

You really can get a passport in 1 day without an appointment! I realized on Friday night that my passport was expired, with a flight on Tuesday. Freaking out, I called the 24 hour appointment line that night, and couldn’t get any appointments in LA. If I hadn’t read the Unilocal reviews, I would have wasted a ton of time driving to the San Diego office or money at one of the expediator services. So here’s a little more info from my experience that will hopefully help someone else:
Monday morning I called the appointment line again as soon as it opened (5 am PST) and was told absolutely no appointments in LA. Got to the will call line at the federal building at 5:45 am, with about 15 people in front of me. Will call window opened at 7, I told them my story and showed my itinerary, and they gave me a little ticket to show to the security guards. They put us into a new line in front of the cafeteria, which was just the no appointment people with tickets from will call. That line was pretty short, maybe 15 minutes until they let me through security. Inside the passport agency everyone gets funneled into 1 line to get all the paperwork checked and then a new numbered ticket to be called for the final window. I was out of there by 8 am, and told to come back at 3 pm to pick up my passport.
The afternoon line for pickup was much longer than the morning line, also at the will call windows. I got there at 2:45 and got my passport at 3:30. It was a little confusing because the receipt says don’t come before 3 pm and that the will call office closes at 3 pm. But there were plenty of people behind me when I left and it seemed like the will call window wasn’t closing up.
I’m still amazed this worked.

So efficient! Made my appointment through the phone automation and was given my confirmation. I arrived 30 minutes late for my appointment but no biggie, security was nice about it. I was in and out in 40 minutes. Was told to come back after 2 days. LOL, went back a week later and only 2 people ahead of me at will call. I only waited 5 minutes.
***Tip*** AVOID MORNING APPOINTMENTS IF POSSIBLE. The 405 fwy is bananas! It took me 90 minutes to drive 18 miles for my 7:30am appointment.

Very rude and disrespectful agents. They don’t care if you drive many hours and if you need to catch an emergency plane ride. Truly avoid this hassle of you can. The agent that filed my process was disrespectful. I thought that the Mexican consulate was rude but this U.S. Embassy surpass the meaning of rude. Long wait times. I arrived at 4am and their was already a line, it’s ridiculous. Las Vegas, Nevada needs a U.S. Embassy office.

If you schedule an appointment your time spent here would be a breeze. I had an 7am appointment on Monday morning showed up late at 7:13 and was out of there by 7:50 and was able to pick up my brand new passport 2 days later. I showed them me and my boyfriends ticket to prove we were leaving in less then 2 weeks.
Schedule the appointment, the line for non appointments was ridiculously long. Ask a security guard where to go when you get there so you don’t end up roaming around. No need to show up before your appointment time.

Four stars for a government agency? Based on my experiences…
i had to come here twice; the first back in 2006 and the second time being just this week. When i came the first time around, i was a newly naturalised citizen and needed to get my passport in a hurry for a impromptu trip down to Mexico. i don’t remember whether the appointment feature was available back in 2006, but it was quite a miracle that i had actually gotten my passport made the same day. i didn’t have any itinerary for the trip and i went to the agency not knowing whether i’d actually get it on time. After the long line and long wait, i was called to the window and i forget why, but it didn’t seem like my process was going smooth. Then, out of the blue, some other agent walked behind the agent who attended me, heard my story and said, «Your passport will be ready later this afternoon». Surely enough, my passport was ready at the promised time
Fast forward 9 years into the future. i come to visit family and friends in the States and in a moment of sheer stupidity, i forget to take out my passports from the jacket pocket where i left them and washed all my clothes at my parents’ house. i opened the washer door and see my passports destroyed. Sigh… Although the main page was still legible, the passport book itself was totally warped. What to do? i have to make a new passport, obviously. On a «bright» side, both my passports were set to expire next year anyway
i went online to the passport info page on the Department of State’s website and prepared all of the required paperwork. Since my return flight back to Brasil would be in about two weeks, i opted for the expedited service and made an appointment, as suggested by the website. With everything prepared, i went to the agency last Monday and arrived a few minutes before my scheduled appointment. After the usual line, both outside the building and inside, i waited not too long before my number was called up. i presented all the necessary paperwork to the agent. He determined that i still had enough time and said that i could pick up my passport two days later. Just like the first time, my passport was ready for me at the Will Call window as promised. Sure, it would’ve been nice to have received my passport that same day, but i’m on vacation and it wasn’t such a big deal for me to come back
The only negative experience i had this time around was the confusion about which line to stand. The usually long line are for the ones who show up without an appointment. Next to them was the line where the federal officer made appointees wait. Until you either ask the officer or he approaches you, you wouldn’t know exactly which line is the right one. The long wait times, both standing in line and waiting for your number to be called, just can’t be helped
i would seriously suggest that you read carefully the information about getting your passport and prepare everything ahead of time. It is also worth noting that this LA branch does require you to have a printed itinerary as proof of necessity for quick expedition. If all goes well, you’ll have your passport ready to go

What a pathetic experience:(
I left my house at 4am to get here at 6ish cz I was travelling the very next day! Stood in 3 different lines for good 1 – 2 hours each! Very inefficient facility. They are earning tens of thousands every day! I am sure they can hire more people to expedite the process but they would rather make the clients suffer! I hope I never have to go back here ever.

Per previous review, I showed up on a Monday. My trip is Sunday and the earliest appt was for Friday. I didn’t want to take that chance so we went early on Monday and waited in a line. It moved quickly but I was told by the employee at the window that you can only get a same day appt within 48 hours of your trip and that I needed to return on Thursday. So yes, you can go on other days other than Monday. They advised showing up between 7 – 8 am.
Forward to Thursday. Waited in two lines outside-​one to get a ticket for people without appointments and one to get in the building– for two hours and waited inside for two hours. Had to return Friday at 2 to pick up passport and waited an hour in line for that. Thank goodness for vacations!

I went back to the Los Angeles Passport Agency this afternoon to pick up my expedited passport at the Will Call window. They had informed me that my passport would be ready at 2pm today, so I showed up at about 1:15pm expecting a long line (like I saw last Friday). To my surprise there were only 5 people in front of me. I wore a hat and even brought an umbrella because I expected to be out under the sun for at least an hour.
It took less than 10 minutes to get though the line and actually get my passport in hand!
Great service!

Really not that bad. I’m only giving four stars because I wish they were more clear on their website as to what *exactly* needs to be done and when if you need an emergency passport. Otherwise, this place can really get it done.
I read all the Unilocal reviews last night out of nervousness, and it helped calm my nerves, so I’m going to return the favor. Here’s what I did: I realized that I lost my passport on Saturday, and my flight was on Thursday. I showed up to the will call line at 6am on Monday morning (it opens at 7am on Mondays rather than 7:30am, they don’t say that on the website)…and it was already thirty people long! Once I got in line, I heard from the person next to me that they will only take people without an appointment on Monday mornings from 7am till 8am, which she knows because she tried showing up without one last Thursday and they told her to return today. I didn’t know that! It didn’t say that anywhere on the website. Additionally, you can only use their services if your flight is 72 hours away. More news.
This line moves really fast (you just show the will call people your flight itinerary) and then get in a second line to get into the building. Then into a third line to get your paperwork ‘pre-​checked’. Make sure you bring it all (this they actually outline pretty well on the website). You get a number and from there its like the DMV – you wait to be called to a window.
Excluding waiting for it to open, the whole process took a little over an hour. Its extremely efficient and virtually painless. My only qualm is that if I didn’t know that Monday was the only day I could walk in without an appointment and decided to show up on Tuesday or something, I’d be totally screwed.

At 11pm on Monday night, I decided to grab my passport to ready it for my trip to Korea on Friday. My heart sank when I looked at my passport and realized it had expired 7 months ago!!! I thought, I’m supposed to go out of the country in 4 days!!! I started frantically searching online for the passport agency in Los Angeles (mind you, I just moved to LA so everything is new to me and I don’t know where what is). I found the passport agency information and it says in no uncertain terms that you absolutely need an appointment to even get past security. So, I called the 1 – 800 number and went through the automated system. The first appointment available was one week later… AFTER my departure date. I then start panicking. I started reading some of these Unilocal reviews and it seems other people had gone through this and I followed the advice that you can stand in line, at 6am. So that was my plan. But before I did that, I needed to prepare. So I filled out the application online, rushed to a 24 hour FedEx and took a passport photo. And the next morning, I got up at 4am and got to the passport agency to be ready in line by 6am. There were several other people there already, I was about 5 deep, waiting at the will call counter line (if you don’t have an appointment you have to go there first). I sat there, stopping myself from having a meltdown. I felt a little better talking to the person next to me when he said he was leaving that night! He was hoping for a one day passport. Well, let me tell you, it can happen and the LA Passport Agency is great. So I waited. The counter opened at 7am. One by one, we went up to the window, with no appointment. They gave me a ticket and then as we walked to security, he told us to wait in the cafeteria until 8:30am. So about two dozen of us, waiting, without appointments. Then security came, and we lined up again. And by the way, that first line at 7am was pointless. You don’t need to get there early. This second line is what matters. So we went in and they process you like everyone else. You go to another window, they check your application, and then you wait some more. Luckily, I was able to pick up my passport the next day at 2pm! PHEW! The guy who was in front of me who left that night, he got a same day passport, at 2pm that day. You need to bring a copy of your travel itinerary if you want an expedited passport. And you also need patience. Considering I had no appointment, I was done by 9:30am. That is not bad at all!!! They also have a passport photo place there in another building so if all else fails you can take a photo there. This place was awesome and efficient and the guards outside keep things organized. In my desperation the night before, I even started looking at those outside service folks who provide one day passports. I read online that those businesses do well too but they charge between $ 500 to $ 900! Insanity! With patience and planning, go directly to the Passport Agency. You do pay an expedite fee of $ 170. Not bad at all!!!
TIPS: bring your travel itinerary showing immediate travel, don’t forget passport photo (if you don’t have one, they have a photo place there but then you might lose your place in line because photo place opens later than will call line, go straight to will call and wait there.

Painless. Could have been worse.
Security guy at the front is the person you want to see to know where the heck to go. He was actually really pleasant.
He’ll ask if you have an appointment and about your documents.
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT if you want to breeze through this process.
I went one day and came back 2 days later for pick-​up.
Both times there were incidences outside by belligerent old-​timers on bikes.
It’d be better if those who don’t have business to do at this federal building not be allowed on property. The loud fowl language wasn’t cool around the small kids waiting in line with their parents.
There’s a low wall for sitting while in line outside. Good to know for those who can’t stand long.

I didn’t know what to expect from a government agency. I thought for sure that I would be there for hours, it would stink, there would be weird stains on the floor, would be full of screaming babies, 90 degrees, rude employees, and fights would be breaking out every few minutes, reminding me of the county building or DMV. No siree! That’s not the case here.
You MUST have an appointment to even walk through the door. You schedule your appointment by calling the 800 number, or by scheduling online. Parking was a breeze and most importantly, it was FREE! No bullshit parking meters or $ 3.00 per 30 minute parking lots. There was also ample parking, not 20 spaces for the hundreds of people who need to go here. There are federal officers who man each location in this place. To even get in, you have to show your appointment slip, or have your reservation number handy. Make sure that you bring all pertinent documents with you, because they look at all of it. You will need a CERTIFIED copy of your birth certificate, your travel itinerary, your identification, and any other pertinent information that they tell you to bring. Apparently, that is different for each person, depending on their needs.
Once you’re confirmation number is found, the officer leads you to a line to make sure that you’re not carrying any weapons that you’d normally bring into the DMV to cut your own throat, due to the long wait! Once your through there, you go into the main room, where you check in with another federal officer. He checks all of the documentation that you brought and makes copies where needed. He then clips it all together, gives you a number and you wait for your number to be called. There was barely anyone there. The good thing is that they work by appointment only, and those are given in 30 minute increments. There will never be walk-​ins, unless it’s someone picking up their passport, and even then you have to have your confirmation slip to get in and you go to a pick up window.
We waited for maybe 20 minutes for our number to be called. While we were waiting, this lady tried to sneak and make a phone call, but the officer caught her and made a true example out of her. He loudly told her to put it away or she will be kicked out. She said to him that she didn’t know and he said, «Yes you do! That’s why you tried to sneak and do it, so I wouldn’t see you!» Totally called her out… so make sure that your phone is on silent. You can play a game or text, but you can’t make a phone call and I wouldn’t try to take any pictures, either.
My sister and I were done in 15 minutes and we picked up our passports two days later. This was way easier than anything that I expected. If you need a passport at the last minute, this is definitely the place to go. Everyone was very nice and cordial and it was very clean (no food or drinks allowed) and orderly. The bathroom was very clean, no one was loitering in the hallways and it was fairly quiet (whisper status) in there.

Had an issue while checking in at LAX, my passport was about to expire and they wouldn’t let me on the plane. So I jetted down here at 2:00pm (they close at 3:00) they weren’t able to help me that day so I was advised to come at 5am the next day (not a good idea as they don’t even open until 7) waited in line with my passport, passport pics and itinerary to show proof that my plane takes off at 3:45pm. The lady Michelle wasn’t to friendly and couldn’t answer any questions but said, you do know your cutting it close as you won’t get your passport before 3pm. Scared as heck as the airlines already did me a favor and switched flights for me, then I went back outside to speak to will call, they said to check at noon to see if it was done early. So waiting around hopefully it comes sooner! I just want to be in Paris already
–I must say they start handing them out «earliest» at 2:30pm, I stood In line got my passport and ran to the car, needless to say I made it to LAX and was able to board my plane at 3:45!!! Paris was amazing! :)

This is a great place when you are in a tight spot to get a passport FAST!
You get to enjoy waiting in long government lines with the cream of the crop of LA area weirdos and freaks while admiring the groovy mid-​century modernist architecture of this Federal building.
Bring a pair of sunglasses and a hat and all needed papers

My passport expired and my trip was the following week. The drive from home was two hours. They did not accept the photos I made that morning at Kinko’s. So I had to take a second set. There is a vendor in the cafeteria that does it cheaper than Kinko’s.
I paid the $ 170 fee, and was told I can pick up the passport in three days. Then I was called and told my social security number is «too new»! I received it when I was 20 years old. They said I should have got it when I was a child. I reminded them that I had two previous passports. They say to bring in a high school yearbook, photos, school records.
So I return, submit the additional documents, and wait four hours. I did get my passport — but forgot to sign it. At the airport the jokester TSA agent said my passport was not valid! Brief panic, then he said I had to sign it!
Bottom line — check the passport’s expiration date!